At Gilmour Academy, we continue to live out our mission of developing the competence to see and the courage to act in creating a more humane and just society. One way we do this each month is by recognizing important moments of awareness and creating opportunities for students to learn through the experiences and expertise of others.

In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, we were grateful to welcome Mrs. Sarah DeJohn, Director of Milestones Autism Resources, as our Convocation speaker on April 15. Mrs. DeJohn introduced students to Autism Spectrum Disorder, helping them understand that autism is a developmental difference that affects communication, relationships, routines and sensory experiences. She emphasized an important truth: there is no single way to be autistic, and each person’s experience is unique.

Students were also introduced to the concept of neuroaffirming, which encourages communities to recognize that no one way of thinking or processing the world is superior to another. Rather than expecting individuals to change who they are, neuroaffirming environments are designed to support all learners so they can thrive.

Mrs. DeJohn invited students to consider how differences in communication styles, sensory needs and social expectations can shape how individuals navigate the world. She also introduced the social model of disability, which highlights that many challenges arise not from the individual, but from environments that are not built with everyone in mind.

Experiences like this support Gilmour’s commitment to forming students who grow in understanding, empathy and respect for one another. Conversations during Autism Awareness Month help strengthen a community where each person is recognized for their dignity and where students continue learning how to support one another with care and awareness.

We are grateful to Mrs. DeJohn and Milestones Autism Resources for partnering with our school and helping students better understand what it means to build a community where everyone belongs.